Heavy media separator



June 26, 1962 G. LOGOJDA ET AL 3,040,889

HEAVY MEDIA SEPARAIOR Filed Nov. 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY June26, 1962 G. LOGOJDA ET AL 3,040,889

HEAVY MEDIA SEPARATOR Filed Nov. 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 5224 040.10? Jfl/Qbf Paussmeaw wa /e054 .2760

BY z M ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,040,889 Patented June 26,1952 3,040,889 HEAVY MEDIA SEPARATOR Gaza Logojda, Avon, JacquesPoussmdin, Fontainehleau,

and Marcel Dru, Montigny-sur-Loing, France, assignors to Ste.Preparation Industrielle des Combustibles,

Fontainebleau, France Filed Nov. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 851,883 Claimspriority, application France Dec. 31, 1958 8 Claims. (Cl. 209-1725) Thisinvention relates to apparatus for separating solid materials and hasmore particular reference to apparatus for separating solid materials ofdifferent specific g-ravities by means of a suspension of the type inwhich the lifting of the sinks is effected by a lifting wheel or wheelsmounted in an inclined casing positioned at one side of thesedimentation vat, with the lower end of the casing forming the bottomportion of the vat to receive the heavy settled solids.

Apparatus of the above type are well known; however, in such apparatusthe lifting wheels are usually fitted on a shaft rotating between twobearings, located either both above the plane of rotation of the wheelor one above and one below. Such mountings of the lifting wheels presentseveral drawbacks.

First, it is difficult to obtain an accurate fitting of the set, seeingthat a mechanical part marking the position of the wheel rotating insidethe tank with a suificient play, must be fitted upon two bearings, oneof which at least is located far from the body of the unit and supportedby beams which, owing to their dimensions, present a certain deflectionwhich varies during operation with the result that a delicate mechanicaladjustment must be effected on the steelwork construction and that, incourse of operation, an irregular displacement of the wheel axle occursin relation with the wash box frame.

Secondly, in cases where a bearing is located below the plane ofrotation of the wheel, the fact that the shale discharge takes placenecessarily through one evacuation chute, the chute discharging upon ascreen or a rewashing unit, creates difiiculty for the location and useof the washing means, both during erection and when making repairs;also, the location of a bearing below the plane of rotation of the wheelrender-s difiicult, if not impossible, the manufacture of a threeproduct unit in which the lifting of the sink from each bath is effectedby a double wheel fitted on a common shaft.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improvedlifting wheel construction which overcomes all of the foregoing defects.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in apparatus forseparating solid materials of the class described, a lifting wheelconstruction in which the lifting wheel is integral with a hub rotatablearound an axle, rigidly fixed in the center of the wash box framecontaining the wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hearing constructionwhich is simple and efiicient in carrying out the purpose for which itis adapted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing specification when considered with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of one embodiment ofapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 1, but showing anothermodification of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but showing athird modification of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated, in FIG. 1, oneembodiment of apparatus constructed in :desired liquid level ismaintained therein.

accordance with the present invention. As there shown, the apparatuscomprises an elongated generally rectangu lar sedimentation vat or washbox 10 having an outer side wall 11 and an inner side wall 12; aninclined opentop casing 13 positioned at one side of the vat and withits lower end opening into and forming the bottom portion of the vat; alifting wheel, indicated generally at 14, mounted within the inclinedopen-top casing 13; a support 15 mounted on and projecting upwardly fromthe bottom wall of the inclined casing for supporting an axle 16 rigidlysecured thereto and on which the hub of the wheel 14 is rotatablymounted.

The inclined wheel is shown as being formed by an annular plate 17,preferably, and as shown, perforated, and having an upstanding flangeformed around its outer periphery forming an outer wall 18; a pluralityof circumferentially spaced radial partitions or blades 19 secured alongtheir bottom and outer edges to the annular plate 17 and the outer wall18, respectively, forming a plurality of inwardly opening baskets forlifting the sink products as the wheel rotates.

The Wheel 14 is rotatably mounted on the axle 16 which is suitablysecured to the flat top wall of the support member 15 as by having itsflanged base bolted to the top wall.

The wheel is provided with a hub assembly, indicated generally at 20 androtatably mounted on the axle l6 and connected to the wheel by means ofa plurality of arms or members 21. As shown, the hub assembly comprisesan upper cylindrical section 22, a lower cylindrical section 23 having afrusto-conical shaped bottom portion 24 and a cover member 25. The covermember 25 is suitably secured to the upper end of the cylindricalsection 22, as by being bolted to a peripheral flange formed around theupper end of the cylindrical section. The upper and lower cylindricalsections 22 and 23 have peripheral flanges around their abutting edgesand are suitably secured together as by bolting. The arms 21 have theirlower ends suitably secured to the annular plate 17, as by welding orbolting, and have flanges on their upper ends which are bolted to aperipheral flange formed around the lower end of the frusto-conicalshaped portion 24 of the lower cylindrical section 213. A row ofcircumferentially spaced openings 26 formed in the side of thefrusto-conical portion 24 of the lower section 23 provides access to thebolts securing the axle to the top of the support 15.

A set of roller bearing members 27 are mounted in a recess 28 formed inthe upper end portion of the axle 16, and a second set of roller bearingmembers 29 are supported on an inwardly extending flange 30 formed onthe upper end of the fr-usto-conical portion 24 of the lower cylindricalsection 23.

The wheel 14 is shown as being rotated by a pinion 31 engaging acircumferential row of pins .32 formed around the outer wall of thewheel. The pinion 31 may be driven by any suitable means (not shown).

The top surface of the top wall of the support member 15 is accuratelymachined so that when the axle 16 is secured thereto the longitudinalaxis of the axle will coincide with the axis of the inclined casing 13surrounding the wheel. The inclined casing 13 has an evacuation conduit33 for the lifted heavy products formed in its bottom wall.

The operation of the apparatus is similar to that of inclined wheelwashing units of the usual commercial type. The dense liquid and solidsubstances to be separated are delivered into the feeding end of the vatand a The heavy products fall to the bottom of the vat while the lighterproducts are evacuated by overflowing with the liquid at the end of thevat opposite the end at which they are originally introduced in the vat.As the lifting wheel is rotated the heavy products which have settledinto the baskets at the bottom of the vat are lifted and fall from theinner open end of the baskets into the evacuation conduit for heavyproducts.

A modified form of the lifting wheel is illustrated in FIG. 2. As thereshown, the vat the inclined opentop casing 13', support member 15, andaxle 16 on which the lifting wheel 14 is mounted, are generally similarto the corresponding parts of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. However, inthis particular modification the lifting wheel 14- is of the scrapertype and as shown, comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedradial blades 34, each connected to the lower section 23' of the hubassembly by means of arms 35 bolted to the hub member at one end andsuitably secured at the other end, as by welding, to the radial blades.The outer ends of the radial blades are suitably secured, as by welding,to a cylindrical member 35. In this particular modification the liftingwheel is rotated by means of a toothed wheel 37 driven by an endlessscrew 38. The toothed wheel 37 is loosely fitted around the upper end ofthe axle 16 but integral with the upper cylindrical hub section 22 andcarries upper roller bearings 27. A lower set of roller bearings 29' arecarried by the lower section 23' of the hub assembly. The endless screwis driven by any suitable means (not shown).

The toothed wheel 37 and endless screw 39 are housed within a gear box39 fixedly secured to the upper end of the axle 16'. The endless screwis journaled in the gear box, thus making it integral with the axle 16'and thus the axle not only supports the wheel hub assembly but alsoabsorbs the reaction of the wheel driving torque. As in the modificationshown in FIG. 1, the frusto-conical section 24' of the lower cylindricalhub section 23 is provided with openings 26" to permit access to thebolts securing the axle to the top of the support member 15.

The operation of this modification is generally similar to themodification shown in FIG. 1, except that the blades scrape the heavysink products up the inclined bottom wall of the inclined annular casingto an evacuation conduit 33' formed therein adjacent its upper end.

In connection with the modifications shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it readilywill be seen that, regardless of the type of wheel employed, the hub andits mounting are readily accessible and removable. The axles whichextend perpendicular to the bottom of the inclined open-top casings inwhich the wheels are mounted, have their machined bases rigidly securedto the flat inclined top of the support member so that the axlescoincide with the axis of the wash box frame surrounding the wheels.

It should be noted that the connecting surfaces of the hub to the wheeland the axle to the mounting member are plane surfaces and are locatedabove the plane of rotation of the wheel and are substantially in thesame plane. Also, the four joints formed by the flanges are machined sothat the hub and wheel practically center themselves in relation to theinclined casing in which they are mounted.

The novel and improved mounting of the lifting wheel of the presentinvention may readily be adapted to separation apparatus for eifecting aplurality of product separations and employ a plurality of wheels. Suchan apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 3. As there shown, a first wash boxor separating chamber 40 has a lifting wheel '41 for lifting the sinks.The wash box 40 and lifting wheel 41 are generally similar to the washbox and lifting wheel 14 shown in FIG. 1. At a point adjacent the top ofits path of rotation the wheel 41 discharges the lifted sink productsfrom the wash box 40 onto a chute 42 which conveys them to the feed sideof a second wash box '43. The sink products from the wash box 43 arelifted by a wheel 44 which discharges them into evacuation conduit 45.The direction of flow of the dense liquid in the second wash box 43 isperpendicular to the direction of flow of the liquid in the first washbox 40. The second wash box 43 is water-tight with respect to the firstwash box 40 and is separated therefrom as by means of a wall 46. An axle'47 rigidly attached to a support member 48 carried by the wash boxframe supports the hub assembly 49 which supports the two wheels.

The hub assembly is rotatably mounted on the axle 47 and is shown ascomprising an upper cylindrical section 50 and a lower cylindricalsection 51; the two sections have peripheral flanges around theirabutting ends which are bolted together. The flange around the upper endof the lower section 51 is elongated and supports a dependingfrusto-conical member 52 having an upper flange which is secured to theflange on the supporting cylindrical section 51. The lower cylindricalsection 51 also has an inwardly extending circumferential flange 53which supports a lower roller bearing assembly 54. The lower end portion55 of the lower cylindrical section 51 flares outwardly to afrusto-conical shape, is provided with a row of circumferentially spacedopenings 56, and has a flange around its bottom edge to which the lowerwheel 44 is attached.

The upper Wheel 41 is generally similar in COl'lStI'LlCu tion to thewheel 14 shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a perforated annular plate 57having an upstanding flange around its outer periphery forming an outerwall 58, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial partitionsor blades 59 secured to the annular plate and its outer wall forming aplurality of inwardly opening baskets for lifting the sink products fromwash box 40 as the wheel rotates. The wheel 41 is suitably connected tothe frusto-conical member 52 by means of arms 60 which may be boltedthereto.

The lower Wheel 44 is shown as being of the scraper type and comprises aplurality of circumferentially spaced radial blades 61, each connectedto the lower section 51 of the hub assembly by means of arms 62 boltedto the hub member at one end and suitably secured at the other end, asby welding, to the radial blades. The outer ends of the radial bladesare suitably secured, as by welding, to a cylindrical member 63.

The overflow of dense liquid and floats from the lower wash box 43 takesplace over the edge 64 of the lower wash box and are evacuated through aconduit 65.

While the upper and lower lifting wheels may be rotated by any suitablemeans, the hub assembly of the wheels is shown as having a toothed wheel66 loosely fitted around the upper end portion of the axle 47 butintegra1 with the upper section 50 of the hub assembly. An endless screw67 driven by any suitable means (not shown), drives the toothed wheel.

The toothed wheel 66 and endless screw 67 are housed within a gear box68 fixedly secured to the upper end of the axle 47. The endless screw isjournaled in the gear box, thus making it integral with the axle. Thus,the axle not only supports the wheel hub assembly but also absorbs thereaction of the wheel driving torque.

The upper end of the axle 47 is reduced to provide a mounting for anupper roller bearing assembly 69.

Like the modifications shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the axle and hub assemblyis easily dismantled. First, the frusto-conical element 52 is removed,providing access to the flanges by which frusto-conical upper part ofthe two piece wall member 46 is secured to the lower part. This exposesthe openings 56 in the lower end portion 55 of the lower cylindrical hubsection 51 to permit the unfastening of the axle 47 from the base member48. It should also be noted that the upper and lower roller bearingassemblies 69 and 54 are above the plane of rotation of the two liftingwheels.

Obviously, any other suitable means for rotating the lifting wheelscould be provided.

Obviously, also, if it became desirable to rotate the two wheels atdifferent speeds, this could be accomplished by separating the hubsections supporting the wheels from each other and providing separatesuitable driving means for each wheel.

Obviously, too, the invention is not restricted to the particularmodifications herein shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for separation of solid materials having differentspecific gravities, comprising a separating vessel adapted to hold aliquid wherein solid materials having low specific gravities tend tofloat and solid materials having a high specific gravity tend to sink; anonrotatable axle carried by and extending upwardly from said separatingvessel at an angle inclined from the vertical and having an upperportion located above the level of the liquid held in said vessel; a hubrotatably mounted on the upper end portion of said axle; ananti-friction bearing interposed between said hub and the upper portionof said axle; a plurality of rigid arms extending from said hub andhaving outer ends; a lifting wheel connected to the outer ends of saidrigid arms to form a driven assembly comprising said hub, said rigidarms and said wheel to rotate around said axle and adapted to lift andevacuate from said vessel solid materials having said higher specificgravity; and driving means for rotating said driven assembly.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for rotatingsaid wheel includes a toothed wheel integral with said hub and anendless worm engaging said toothed wheel.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a support member iscarried by said separating vessel for sup- 3 porting said axle andwherein the point of connection of said axle to said support member isabove the plane of rotation of said wheel.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said hub comprises upperand lower cylindrical sections detachably secured together, with saidlower cylindrical section having its lower end portion formedfrusto-conical with said rigid arms being detachably secured thereto.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wheel comprises aplurality of radially extending scrapers.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the outer ends of saidradial scrapers are connected to a cylindrical wall.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the bottom edges of saidradial scrapers are connected by a perforated circular plate so as toform with the radial. scrapers a plurality of inwardly opening baskets.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a second separatingvessel having a second lifting wheel mounted on tr e same hub as thefirst named lift wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,036,809 Humphreys Apr. 7, 1936 2,340,226 Roberts Jan. 25, 19442,798,606 Dru July 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 149,964 Australia Feb. 10,1953 1,213,200 France Oct. 26, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Sedimentation DorrClarificrs, Bulletin No. 6191, page 14, March 10, 1939.

